Blood - The Middle East

There is nothing worse than disappointment, especially when it occurs from those you thought would never disappoint you.
Though we've had our issues, my family has not yet let me down. They are constant. They will always be there for me.
This song is a portrayal of family. Simple, beautiful, melancholy, lovely.

"..wake up in a cold sweat on the floor
next to a family portrait drawn when you were four."

An extremely luring lullaby by a charmingly serene woman. No Room For Doubt carries you on a cloud through both comforting and sinister thoughts and yet, strangely, you remain relieved despite the quiet fears floating in the background. Lianne La Havas and Willy Mason perform this dreamy duet perfectly together. With Mason's rumbling folky love song and La Havas' shaky hesitant soulful response, the song is like a smooth, silky, silver ribbon lightly being coaxed in a cyclical motion. The sudden pauses jerks you awake from your drifting thoughts, but right away you are reassured again by the ribbons orbit. The refrain consists of La Havas singing "please sleep, softly, leave me no room for doubt.” There absoloutly is "no doubt" that this song will not be on repeat for a long time.

I could not decide between these two videos. The top one is the original video featuring Willy Mason and is beautifully classy. The second one is a take away show from La Blogotheque. It takes place in Montmarte, Paris at the end of summer and is absolutely gorgeous(especially around 2:52 when a breathtaking smile is flashed...)

This one is from Australian artist Gotye. He recently took number one in Australia's music charts. This song, surprisingly, is not about having a great time on a Friday night as other "number one songs" are. On the contrary it is about a failed relationship and how not everything ends up dandy in the end. The rhythm is intriguing and the vocals captivating and truthful. This piece is neither here nor there, its somewhere in its own special place.

Here's one from The Japanese Popstars featuring the great rasp of James Vincent McMorrow. This is unlike what McMorrow usually does. Unlike his typical folky tunes, this one contains super synths and electro beats created by the Popstars.

Great for pensive drives.

This piece has been out for a while, but just recently I decided to take a listen to it again, and was reminded of its greatness. The peaceful vocals have a way of evoking an overwhelming feeling of wistfulness. The light tinkling of the piano and building strings resembles a perfectly soft blanket, like the one you wish to be wrapped in, sitting next to a warm fire with someone you care about while this beautiful music plays softly right next to both of you.

Bon Iver - Michicant from Simon Boury on Vimeo.

There will never be an artist like Justin Vernon. No songs have made me feel the way his do. With Bon Iver's creamy honey like falsetto, meditative music, cryptic and overwhelming lyrics, every listen makes me feel something nameless but wondrous. For Emma Forever Ago did this, and now Bon Iver threads itself perfectly with For Emma, creating a magnificent tapestry for us to perceive with our ears and enjoy immutably.

Madcon- Beggin by POLITICK2


I don't even know what to say about this song. I picture strutting down a bustling street in Manhattan in 1967 at 2am, ready to dance dance dance! Madcon did an excellent job covering Beggin' which was originally done by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons many moons ago. I want to be in a city NOW!

The end is finally near! Summer is about to begin and animals are awakening, flowers blooming, and people frolicking. Happiness is exploding for the fun that will soon begin and at the same time a sort of glum feeling looming because it is almost time to say goodbye to the place that has been home for nine months (yeah, I'll miss it despite the uncomfortable ups and downs). I recently discovered Oh Land and her music has been on repeat for a while now, absolutely matching what is going on all around me. Her orchestral embellishment added to her songs makes them all perfect for this spring to summer transition. They are both dark and light, soft and hard, ecstatic and melancholy. No song exemplifies her overall dualities better than Sun Of A Gun. The 4/4 beat contrasts her harmonic vocals and shows just how perfect opposition is. The end of my freshman year of college is over, but the beginning of a grand summer is fast approaching. Bring on the juxtaposition!

James Vincent McMorrow - If I Had A Boat by partisanpr

This year has started off as an...interesting year. It has not been terrible, however it has not been great. It just has been. There were not many things that I was able to rely on to make this year go by easier. But the one constant this year (and through out my life) is music. Corny, sappy, and all those adjectives, I know, but it's the truth.
I recently discovered this song, If I Had A Boat, by James Vincent McMorrow and I am exceedingly infatuated. It has been on replay since the day I got it. His voice makes me feel an inexpressible sensation, a juxtaposition of emotions. His voice radiates and his music helps build up to a beautiful chorus.
Many will agree that McMorrow's voice is very similar to Bon Iver, however I sensed a bit of a Brett Dennen-esque sound towards the end. The general tune of the song is very much like Fleet Foxes and Band Of Horses, in my opinion. There may be debate upon this statement, however it is certain that James McMorrow knows what he is doing, and he is doing it particularly well.

Will Do by pheelpop

The first glimpse of TV On The Radio's new album (which will official appear on April 12th) has been brought forth with synthesizing and pulsing elegance. This tune is a cauldron full of various genres. It may seem like one of "those" indie songs but then you feel that R&B undertone nestled away deep in the song. This "love sick lullaby" takes you on an strange lovelorn ride.
Adibimpe may not be feeling the love, as is evident with the song's opening lyric, "it might be impractical to seek out a new romance”. But give it a day or two and this song will reign in the love, oh yes it will.

I went back home this weekend and found myself reminiscing an extremely obnoxious amount about the past. While on a very snowy drive, this song by Iron & Wine came on which sent me on a pilgrimage through the years. I find it extremely annoying that anytime I go home it seems like my mind summons old memories, both good and bad, that just send me on an exceptionally stirring journey. It is a weirdly intoxicating experience, which is exactly what this song is. Intoxicating. It begins with a hypnotic rhythm then it slowly bubbles into a quietly epic jam with beautiful vocals.
And in the end it leave you very confused and craving for just a little bit more, just like memories do.

I have an irrational love for covers of songs that you would not expect to be covered. Especially when a song transforms from Wiz Khalifa's "hip-hop" to 17 year old Cris Cab's groovin' cover of Black and Yellow. I've listened to this song an embarrassing amount of times considering I just got it.